Dana Canedy, administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, discusses why a free press is integral to American democracy and the role the Pulitzers play in both celebrating creative expression and challenging conventional notions of art.

Canedy on the importance of a free press: “I can say this with utter conviction, having been in this industry for so long… almost all journalists take this work incredibly seriously and consider it a calling and an important part of American democracy. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise. People do this not for the money, not for the glory, [but] because they believe this is really an important part of American democracy and having an informed citizenry.”

Canedy on honoring hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar with a Pulitzer Prize: “We had the right artist with the right album. He's brilliant… the music itself is just brilliant. The music jury is made up of classically trained composers, and music historians. They chose him and felt really strongly that this was someone who deserved it.”